Real Estate History

Live Like a Lumber Baron in This Historic Eau Claire Home

step into the past with upcoming open house for Queen Anne-style George Winslow House, built in 1889

Rebecca Mennecke, photos by SpinVision  |

LOOKING FOR A 'FULL HOUSE'? The historic George Winslow House in Eau Claire's Third Ward is on the market. (
LOOKING FOR A 'FULL HOUSE'? The historic George Winslow House in Eau Claire's Third Ward is on the market. (Photo by SpinVision)

Bold and unconventional – that’s a key characteristic of Queen Anne-style homes, which you might recognize from San Francisco’s iconic (and eye-catching!) Painted Ladies. (Full House, anyone?)

If you’re a fan of decorative excess, or the creative combination of dozens of architectural styles, check out this “stately historical beauty” on 210 Oakwood Place in Eau Claire, which currently has an open house slated from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, June 5.

STEP INSIDE. The home's foyer features an ornate staircase to the second floor.
STEP INSIDE AND STEP UP. The home's foyer features an ornate staircase to the second floor.

Located in the heart of the Third Ward Historic District, the George Winslow House (built in 1889) was listed on the real estate market about seven months ago, and its price recently dropped from $700,000 to just under $675,000.

This 5,073-square-foot home first belonged to Carrie Foster – daughter of lumber and railroad businessman Nathaniel Foster – and her husband George Winslow, publisher of the Woodsman Journal and creator of “camp remedies,” such as Winslow’s Cough Medicine, Magnetic Oil Liniment, Blood Purifier, and Magic Bomb. (The basic ingredient of them all, you may be interested to know, was alcohol.)

IT'S NOT ALL ANTIQUE. The kitchen includes a central island and quartz countertops.
IT'S NOT ALL ANTIQUE. The kitchen includes a central island and quartz countertops.

Though this historic home is now listed as one of the City of Eau Claire’s historic homes, 210 Oakwood Place was actually pretty basic for its time. It was one of many (many!) mail-order homes, which offered architect-designed house plans for an affordable price. This particular style – which was designed by Tennessee architect George F. Barber – also appears in Jacksonville, Oregon; Calvert, Texas; and Belvedere and Ottawa, Illinois.

CHIM CHIM CHER-EE. The red brick chimney is one of the Winslow House's outstanding features.
CHIM CHIMINEY, CHIM CHIMINEY, CHIM CHIM CHER-EE. The red brick chimney is one of the Winslow House's outstanding features.

Unique to this Eau Claire home, however, is the signature red brick chimney that frames a round-arched glass plate window, according to the City of Eau Claire’s Landmark guidebook. The home is not only an official city landmark, it’s on the national and state registers of historic places, too.

This Saturday’s open house gives you the chance to see inside this historic home – whether you’re looking to buy a house or not – and peek at its five bedrooms, two bathrooms, leaded glass windows, iconic woodwork, and original floors and trim.

HOWDY NEIGHBOR.
HOWDY NEIGHBOR. The porch provides a view of another historic home, the William K. Galloway House.

Outside, be sure to check out the corner porch that wraps around the home, trimmed with spindle balustrades, curved soffits, miniature Tuscan columns, and simple brackets. Experience the modern amenities of a three-car garage, stunning landscaping, and a refurbished gazebo, while simultaneously enjoying what the listing calls the “charm of yesteryear.”

The house is currently listed at $674,900. For full details, you can see the listing here. And for a very cool virtual tour, check out this video from Eau Claire’s SpinVision.


Here are a few more views: